Wike Can Build Law School Hostels, But Falana Built A Legal Revolution

“Falana has made the law accessible to the poor, challenged illegality even under threat, and fought for a society where justice is not a privilege but a right. To mock such a legacy is to celebrate superficiality over substance, politics over principle”.

BY MANASSEH BEM PAUL
In light of recent comments by Lere Olayinka, aide to FCT Minister Nyesom Wike, dismissing the legal career and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) status of Femi Falana, it is imperative to set the record straight. The attack was not only disrespectful but a misrepresentation of one of Nigeria’s most accomplished legal minds.

Falana’s track record in defending constitutionalism, human rights, and rule of law both within Nigeria and internationally speaks volumes—far beyond brick-and-mortar contributions to law school campuses.

A SAN By Merit, Not Favor

To question how Femi Falana became a SAN is to question the very integrity of the Nigerian legal system. Falana became a Senior Advocate of Nigeria in 2012—decades after he had already become a household name for his fearless advocacy under successive military regimes. His delayed conferment was a result of the system’s discomfort with his confrontational and revolutionary legal style, not a lack of merit.

Unlike many who see the SAN title as a reward for political alignment or elite proximity, Falana earned it on the altar of sacrifice, consistency, and principled resistance to tyranny. He has argued landmark cases at all levels of Nigeria’s courts—including the Supreme Court—and has contributed significantly to the evolution of public interest litigation.

Landmark Contributions to Nigerian and African Jurisprudence

Femi Falana’s legal footprints are etched across several transformative court rulings:

• ECOWAS Court of Justice: Falana led the charge in expanding the jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Court to allow individuals—not just states—to file human rights cases. This legal reform transformed the court into a refuge for victims of state abuse across West Africa.
• Victories Against Authoritarianism: He successfully defended victims of unlawful detentions, extra-judicial killings, media repression, and student expulsions during Nigeria’s darkest military years. The likes of MKO Abiola, Omoyele Sowore, and other political detainees benefited from his fearless legal interventions.
• Defender of the Vulnerable: Falana secured reprieve for 12 minors sentenced to death by a military tribunal in 1989, ensuring their release and setting a precedent against child executions in Nigeria.
• Constitutional Interpretation: Through persistent litigation and constitutional challenges, Falana has helped clarify several grey areas in Nigeria’s laws—such as the limits of executive powers, the rights of detainees, and the autonomy of local governments.

Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom

Critics may attempt to reduce legal advocacy to infrastructure donations and political appointments. But Femi Falana’s impact lies in systemic reforms and intellectual contributions:

• Legal Education and Mentorship: Falana has mentored dozens of human rights lawyers and founded Falana & Falana Chambers, a leading pro bono legal practice for oppressed Nigerians.
• Publishing and Public Discourse: He has written extensively on constitutional law, labor rights, and international justice. His essays and public lectures are widely cited in academia and courtrooms alike.
• Support for Bar Associations: While he may not have constructed buildings, Falana has continuously supported bar associations through advocacy for judicial independence, fair remuneration for magistrates, and resistance against the politicization of the legal profession.

International Recognition and Awards

Femi Falana’s global reputation is not an accident. He has been honored with:

• Bernard Simons Memorial Award by the International Bar Association.
• Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism Human Rights Defender Award.
• Hallmarks of Labour Award for Legal Advocacy and Human Rights.
• Appointments to regional legal bodies, including the African Union and ECOWAS human rights panels.

An Unshakable Record vs. Political Gaslighting

The dismissive comparison of infrastructure projects (by Wike) to Falana’s lifelong legal activism is a false equivalence. While facilities aid legal education, justice is not delivered by buildings—it is delivered in courtrooms, law libraries, and through tireless public interest advocacy.

Falana has made the law accessible to the poor, challenged illegality even under threat, and fought for a society where justice is not a privilege but a right. To mock such a legacy is to celebrate superficiality over substance, politics over principle.

Femi Falana is not just a SAN; he is a legal conscience of the Nigerian nation. His courtroom victories, constitutional interventions, mentorship of young lawyers, and transcontinental legal reforms place him in the league of legal legends.

Those who wield power and cement should tread cautiously when disparaging those who wield truth and justice.

History will remember Falana not for his silence in times of injustice, but for his voice—loud, unbought, and unrelenting.